As Americans struggle to make ends meet, home gold-buying parties are becoming the latest fad across the South and Midwest.

"We are holding five or six parties a week," said Stacey Mikel, who operates FastCashGoldParties.com in Jupiter, Fla., with her husband, Paul, a pawnshop owner.

The company operates in eight states, but not yet Kentucky, she said. "We have had a few inquiries from Kentucky" and are eying the Bluegrass for future business.

"We are expanding because it's a very good business," Stacey Mikel said. "A lot of people want to get into it. It's kind of the new thing for women."

Why women?

"They usually have the jewelry"  unwanted gold jewelry that they want to turn into cash, Mikel said, although men are welcome at the parties, and so are other gold items besides jewelry.

FastCashGoldParties.com parties work a lot like Mary Kay or Tupperware parties. The host or hostess invites friends and neighbors to their home and provides refreshments. The company sends a buyer, and the host or hostess gets 10 percent of the total purchased by the company.

Join The Conversation

McClatchy Washington Bureau is pleased to provide this opportunity to share
information, experiences and observations about what's in the news.
Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the
newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day,
and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal
comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time
to offer your thoughts.